Eastern Regional Association

September 2025 Newsletter

Pastor Spotlight

Rev. Merle Beal serves as Pastor of Discipleship at Emmanuel Church in Rochester, New Hampshire. He has over a decade of pastoral experience, and before entering ministry he worked as a boatbuilder in Midcoast Maine, where he learned the value of apprenticeship and leadership, principles that now shape his passion for relational discipleship

Scripture: Matthew 28:19–20 — “Go therefore and make disciples of all nations… teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”

When Jesus called His disciples, He invited them into relationship. They walked with Him, ate with Him, listened to His teaching, and watched His life. Eventually, Jesus sent them out to do ministry. That is discipleship at its core, it’s life on life. It is not simply a transfer of knowledge, but a shared journey where faith is caught as much as it is taught.

We make disciples because this is how the gospel grows. Jesus chose twelve ordinary men and invested in them deeply. Those men, in turn, invested in others, and the ripple continues to this day. Paul described it clearly in 2 Timothy 2:2: “What you have heard from me… entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others also.” Discipleship is never meant to end with us. It multiplies from one life to another, so that disciples make disciples who make disciples.

I call it Relational Discipleship. People do not just need sermons on Sunday; they need someone walking beside them on Monday and on through the week. They need encouragement when life gets heavy, correction when they drift, and a living example of what it means to follow Christ in everyday situations. It is in those honest conversations, prayers, and shared experiences that faith takes root and grows. One conversation at a time, God shapes a person who will then go on to disciple others.

We make disciples in this way because Jesus did. He could have preached to crowds only, but He chose to pour His life into a few and show them how to live in the kingdom of God. And He promised that as we do the same, He will be with us always.

This is why discipleship matters: it is relational, it multiplies, and it brings the presence of Jesus into everyday life. Who can you start a Relational Discipleship with today?

2025 ERA Convention

Registration closes on October 10th!

Ordination of Rev. Sam Cobb

Ordination Service for Sam D. Cobb

Sunday, September 21, 2025.

Sam Cobb, a native of Ashland, Maine, graduated from BICS in 2007. In 2009 Sam became involved with Antioch (a church based theological educational program, emphasizing leadership in the local church, instead of the traditional college paradigm) earning a bachelor’s degree in ministry March 2025. He married his sweetheart Hannah in 2010 while they were part-time at BICS . In 2011 Sam joined the Hope Church staff and was appointed full-time minister of Christian education in 2017. Exemplifying servanthood, Sam also serves on the music committee, the worship team, leads a Koinonia group and is involved in teaching Sunday school. Sam preaches regularly at Hope Church and has a passion for leadership development in Ministry.

The ordination service began with Rev. Steve Brown giving a welcome, the, and invocation. Old Testament and New Testament readings were done by Hannah Cobb and Jake Pickens. The Hope Church Worship team performed special music.

Rev. Andrew Rice preached the ordination Message, which reflected on Ezekiel 34, and 1 Peter 5, entitled “The Sufficiency of the Shepherd.” His points included Jesus is the Shepherd we all need because He is the Sovereign Shepherd, The Servant Shepherd, and the All-Sufficient Shepherd.

Rev. Dr. Jim Caron administered the ordination vows for Sam, followed by Rev. Bruce Burks offering the prayer as all pastors and elders present participated by the laying on of hands, agreeing in prayer over Sam. 

Rev. Derek Irvine, President of the New life conference presented ordination credentials. Rev. Mike Tuttle gave a charge to the candidate, and Rev. Doug Foss gave the charge to the church. 

The Rev. Sam Cobb closed with a few words of thanks and gratitude and benediction. Carrie Rice played the prelude and postlude, and the congregation was led in music by Steve Ross. It was a wonderful service, sensing the presence of Almighty God in the life of Sam Cobb. A time of fellowship followed the service prepared by Hope Church.

Hope Church has uploaded the ordination service to YouTube for anyone who could not attend.  https://www.youtube.com/live/4kEnbFp-EtI

ACGC International Missions Update

Persevering in Malawi: God’s Work Moves Forward

MALAWI – Ken and Darlene Perkins (Bear River, Nova Scotia AC Church) traveled to Malawi this summer (July 23 – August 11) with one mission: to equip pastors and their wives with biblical teaching.



It was a rewarding time. More than 180 pastors and church leaders gathered for a week of seminars — some traveling from Malawi, others from neighboring Mozambique. With every move of God comes opposition....(read more)

Pray for the Liberia Ambassador Trip Team

ACGC sent ambassadors to Liberia on Friday. The 10-member team led by three pastors from the eastern region will provide ministry training for all our Advent Christian pastors in Liberia and a vacation Bible school style children’s outreach. The training and the children’s outreach will take place at an AC church in a section of Monrovia called Virginia.

The Ambassador Trip team members come from a variety of backgrounds and locations throughout the United States. Team members include Shiloh and Daniel Roberts (Massachusetts) and Stacie Howk (Missouri). The team also includes pastors Nathaniel Bickford (New Hampshire), Jacob Hansen (Maine), Tom Loghry (Rhode Island) and Nathan Rogers (Missouri). International Missions staff Catherine Rybicki, Jeff Walsh and Bryce Whiting will lead the team.

The team knows they must depend on the Lord for all things during this trip. Any eternal impact will be the Lord’s doing. The team invites you to join them in prayer throughout the duration of the trip. Below is a prayer schedule you can use to support the team in prayer. You can also download the prayer schedule to print and share. 

ACGC Updates

Ministry Training Institute Seminar

HELP THE GRIEVING



You're invited to attend MTI's Fall Seminar, sponsored by the Ministry Training Institute, on November 6 at 6:30 pm. This fall's topic will focus on how to walk alongside grieving families and navigate the practical and pastoral aspects of funerals. While geared towards pastors, this seminar will also be valuable for elders, deacons and church leaders who assist with pastoral care. The session will be led by MTI Year 2 Coordinator Matt Rice and his father, Rev. Glenn Rice. Matt has served in ministry nearly five years, and Glenn brings over 40 years or pastoral experience from churches across New England. The evening will include dialogue, Q&A and personal stories that make the topic both practical and relatable. Topics will include:

• Meeting with families during the grieving process
• Planning a meaningful funeral service
• Navigating relationships with funeral homes
• Involving the broader church in care and follow-up
• How Advent Christian distinctives inform our approach to death and hope

Whether you're regularly involved in funerals or want to be prepared to serve well when the time comes, we hope you'll join us. Email Mike Alix at malix@acgc.us to register.

ANTIOCH BASED LEADERSHIP TRAINING FUNDS AVAILABLE

The ERA has available funds to aid our churches in their Antioch Based Leadership Training. These funds are available for attending the BILD International in Ames, Iowa, purchase BILD curriculum, and First Principles. If these funds can be of help to your church please send a request for funds to the ERA Treasurer, John Jones. His email address is: pastorjoj@gmail.com.

Eastern Regional Association

P.O. Box 214 Winchester, NH 03470